10 February 2016 08:23

Borussia Dortmund fans turned to tennis balls to demonstrate against high ticket prices, interrupting their side's DFB-Pokal win over Stuttgart on Tuesday night with an unusual protest.

After boycotting the first 20 minutes of the cup tie at Stuttgart's Mercedes-Benz Arena, where they were upset at having to pay upwards of 19.50 euros for a ticket, the fans entered the arena to throw numerous tennis balls onto the field of play.

Players from both sides helped to clear the field and ensure play was not halted for too long.

The message is understood to have been that football fans do not have as much money as followers of tennis, and they will not therefore be held to ransom over ticket prices and allow the sport to become elitist.

Stuttgart defended the price of tickets by saying that they were exactly the same as for their Bundesliga fixture with Dortmund, and unchanged since 2012/13.

Dortmund went on to win the game 3-1 and book their place in the semi-finals of the cup.